Diseño y creación de artículos digitales e infografías interactivas para la enseñanza y el aprendizaje virtual y presencial de la microbiología

Memoria ID-148. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2020-2021

Creación de micro-vídeos para su distribución por redes sociales y una pagina web específica como estrategia de enseñanza y aprendizaje en el ámbito de la Microbiología

Memoria ID-183. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2018-2019

Proyecto docente innovador desarrollado en Grado en Ingeniería en Diseño Industrial y Desarrollo de Producto para la consecución de un Prototipo Funcional mediante trabajo en equipo

[ES] Se propone un método docente innovador para fomentar el trabajo en equipo a la vez que se adquiere habilidades en nuevas tecnologías de interés para el ingeniero de diseño industrial y del producto. Inicialmente a los estudiantes se les propone realizar una investigación siguiendo una metodología de aprendizaje inverso, invitándoles a analizar experimentalmente cómo funcionan muchos de los aparatos tecnológicos que los rodean. Se trata de redescubrir la curiosidad innata de aprendizaje desmontando un producto para ver de qué está hecho y qué mecanismos lo hacen funcionar. Además, durante estas jornadas teórico-prácticas se les muestra materiales, instrumentos y metodologías para realizar prototipos funcionales, como son materiales luminiscentes, escáneres 3D, arcillas de modelado y tecnologías novedosas de código abierto dedicadas al prototipado. Las posteriores evaluaciones y la experiencia adquirida con esta metodología demuestra que la metodología implantada consigue favorecer el trabajo en equipo a la vez que se recupera el entusiasmo por un aprendizaje nutrido desde la curiosidad. La mayoría de los estudiantes coincidieron en lo valioso que les resultó el conocimiento adquirido, incluso han podido aprovechar estas experiencias para desarrollar un modelo funcional para sus respectivos PFG.Aroca Martínez, A.; Calles Díaz, H.; Chisbert Victory, D.; Cremades Navarro, MÁ.; Diago De Rozas, R.; Esplugues Calabuig, D.; Férez Navarro, M.... (2016). Proyecto docente innovador desarrollado en Grado en Ingeniería en Diseño Industrial y Desarrollo de Producto para la consecución de un Prototipo Funcional mediante trabajo en equipo. En In-Red 2016. II Congreso nacional de innovación educativa y docencia en red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2016.2016.440

Overview of the role of rhizobacteria in plant salt stress tolerance

20 páginas, 2 tablas, 2 figurasSalinity is one of the main causes of abiotic stress in plants, resulting in negative effects on crop growth and yield, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. The effects of salinity on plant growth mainly generate osmotic stress, ion toxicity, nutrient deficiency, and oxidative stress. Traditional approaches for the development of salt-tolerant crops are expensive and time-consuming, as well as not always being easy to implement. Thus, the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) has been reported as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to enhance plant tolerance to salt stress. In this sense, this review aims to understand the mechanisms by which PGPB help plants to alleviate saline stress, including: (i) changes in the plant hormonal balance; (ii) release of extracellular compounds acting as chemical signals for the plant or enhancing soil conditions for plant development; (iii) regulation of the internal ionic content of the plant; or iv) aiding in the synthesis of osmoprotectant compounds (which reduce osmotic stress). The potential provided by PGPB is therefore an invaluable resource for improving plant tolerance to salinity, thereby facilitating an increase in global food production and unravelling prospects for sustainable agricultural productivityM.A.-C. is the recipient of a pre-doctoral fellowship from University of Salamanca; J.D.F.-F. is currently a recipient of post-doctoral Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship No. 101003373. This work was supported by Grants PID2019-109960RB-100 from MCIN (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation) and Strategic Research Programs for Units of Excellence from Junta de Castilla y León (CLU-2O18-04)Peer reviewe

Rhizobium laguerreae improves productivity and phenolic compound content of Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) under saline stress conditions

15 páginas, 5 tablas, 1 figuraLettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a widely consumed horticultural species. Its significance lies in a high polyphenolic compound content, including phenolic acids and flavonols. In this work, we have probed the ability of Rhizobium laguerreae HUTR05 to promote lettuce growth, under in vitro and greenhouse conditions (both non-saline and saline conditions). This strain has shown several in vitro plant growth promotion mechanisms, as well as capacity to colonize lettuce seedlings roots. We have analyzed the effect of the rhizobacterium inoculation on mineral and bioactive compounds in lettuce, under greenhouse conditions, and found a rise in the content of certain phenolic acids and flavonoids, such as derivatives of caffeoyl acid and quercetin. The genome analysis of the strain has shown the presence of genes related to plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) mechanisms, defense from saline stress, and phenolic compound metabolism (such as naringenin-chalcone synthase or phenylalanine aminotransferase).This research was funded by the grants AGL2015-70510-R from MINECO (Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness) and VA2I/463AC06 from Salamanca Provincial Government and Strategic Research Programs for Units of Excellence from Junta de Castilla y León (CLU-2018-04). M.A.-C. is the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from the University of Salamanca. A.J.-G. is the recipient of a Formación del Profesorado Universitario predoctoral fellowship from the Central Spanish Government. I.G.-E. thanks the Spanish MICINN (Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities) for the Juan de la Cierva-incorporación postdoctoral contract (IJCI-2017-31499).Peer reviewe

New insight into the bark beetle ips typographus bacteriome reveals unexplored diversity potentially beneficial to the host

14 páginas, 6 figurasIps typographus (European spruce bark beetle) is the most destructive pest of spruce forests in Europe. As for other animals, it has been proposed that the microbiome plays important roles in the biology of bark beetles. About the bacteriome, there still are many uncertainties regarding the taxonomical composition, insect-bacteriome interactions, and their potential roles in the beetle ecology. Here, we aim to deep into the ecological functions and taxonomical composition of I. typographus associated bacteria.This research was cofounded by Czech Science Foundation (GAČR), grant number GAČR-Senior 19-09072 S and the Regional Government of Castile and Leon (Escalera de Excelencia CLU-2018-04), co-funded by the Operational Program of the European Regional Development Fund for Castile and Leon 2014–2020. E.P.-A. received a grant co-financed by the Regional Government of Castille and Leon and the FEDER funds. Z.S-S also received a grant co-financed by the European NextGenerationEU, Spanish “Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia”, Spanish Ministry of Universities, and University of Salamanca (“Ayudas para la recualificación del sistema universitario español 2021–2022”)Peer reviewe

Effect of Rhizobium mechanisms in improving tolerance to saline stress in lettuce plants

Abstract Background Soils affected by salinity are a recurring problem that is continually increasing due to the impact of climate change on weather conditions and ineffective agricultural management practices. The use of plant growth promoting (PGP) Bacteria can alleviate its effects. In this regard, the genus Rhizobium has demonstrated excellent PGP capabilities through various plant growth promotion mechanisms and may therefore be a promising biofortifier under saline conditions. However, little is known about the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by bacteria of this genus and their effects on plant development. Here, we aim to characterize the volatilome (the set of volatile metabolites synthesized by an organism) of Rhizobium for the first time and to further investigate the direct and VOC-mediated interaction between a strain of this genus and lettuce, a crop severely affected by salinity, both under saline and non-saline conditions. Results In this study, it was shown that the use of Rhizobium sp. GPTR29 was able to increase the production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under normal and saline conditions. We analyzed the Rhizobium volatilome under non-saline (0 mM NaCl) and saline (100 mM NaCl) conditions by HS-SPME-GC‒MS and found a differential composition in response to salinity. We detected 20 different compounds, where 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, and α-pinene were the backbone of the Rhizobium volatilome. Exposure to these compounds in bicameral plates under salt stress resulted in increases in plant development of 17.1%, 16.0% and 33.1% in aerial part size, number of leaves and root length, respectively. Under greenhouse conditions and salinity, the inoculation of Rhizobium sp. GPTR29 resulted in an increase of 17.8% and 27.4% in shoot fresh and dry weight, respectively. Phenolic compounds were analyzed by HPLC–DAD-MS, revealing an increase in total flavonoid content under salinity conditions (100 mM NaCl) and apigenin derivative, luteolin 7-O-glucoside and quercetin 3-O-glucuronide individually. Conclusions These results provide new avenues for the study of PGP mechanisms in this bacterial genus, such as VOCs and their effects on plant growth, which play an important role in mediating plant–microorganism interactions. Graphical abstrac

Exploring the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial capacity of phenolics from blueberries and sweet cherries

18 páginas, 4 tablas, 1 figuraFeatured Application: This work analyses the biological potential of blueberries and sweet cherries in several dimensions of human health, reinforcing the research on the benefits of consumption of these fruits. (1) Background: Nowadays, special attention has been paid to red and purple fruits, including blueberries and sweet cherries, since they are highly attractive to consumers due to their organoleptic properties, standing out due to their vibrant red and purple colours and sweet flavour, and nutritional value. (2) Methods: The present study evaluated the phenolic profile of phenolic-enriched extracts from blueberries and sweet cherries and explored their antioxidant potential against DPPH, superoxide and nitric oxide radicals, and ferric species, and their potential to inhibit the α-glucosidase enzyme. Furthermore, their antimicrobial activity was also determined by microdilution method against four Gram-positive strains (Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778, Listeria monocytogenes LMG 16779, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923) and five Gram-negative strains (Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ATCC 13311 serovar Typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883, Proteus mirabilis CECT 170, Serratia marcescens CECT 159, and Acinetobacter baumannii LMG 1025). (3) Results: By chromatographic techniques, eight anthocyanins were detected in blueberry coloured fraction and total extract, and five anthocyanins were detected in sweet cherry total extract and coloured fraction, while quercetin aglycone and chlorogenic acids were the dominant non-coloured compounds in blueberries and sweet cherries, respectively. All extracts demonstrated significant antioxidant properties, as well as the ability to inhibit the activity of α-glucosidase enzyme and the development of various microorganisms. (4) Conclusion: The obtained data evidence the promising biological potential of blueberries and sweet cherries, being highly correlated with the presence of phenolic compounds.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (MCTES), the European Social Fund (EFS), and the European Union (EU) for the Ph.D. fellowships of Ana C. Gonçalves (2020.04947.BD) and Ana R. Nunes (SFRH/BD/139137/2018). José D. Flores-Félix was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 101003373, and the European Union NextGenerationEU and the Portuguese Government under the project PRR-C05-i03-I-000143 (RedFruit4Health)Peer reviewe